Columns Features Opinions

Social Media in North Africa: a ‘Double-Edged Weapon’

How important has been the role that social media have played in the Arab Spring uprisings and the subsequent democratic transformation affecting the North African region? This is a question that has been hotly contested in both policy-making and academic circles essentially ever since a Tunisian fruit vendor’s act of self-immolation swiftly wreaked havoc with […]

Algeria Headlines

Algeria to Build New Terminal at Houari Boumediene Airport

Algerian authorities are planning to build a new Terminal at the Houari Boumediene international airport in the Algerian capital to keep pace with soaring air traffic and passenger growth. Construction work is set to begin in 2014 and expected to be completed by 2018. This project to cost over $ 425 million will be carried […]

Business Energy

Algeria’s shale captures Europe attention

Following Europe’s unpopular attempt to develop its own shale reserves, its attention has now been shifted to Algeria which is using tax breaks to attract investments in its exploration and pipelines lying under the Mediterranean makes Europe much more eager. Algeria has already concluded shale exploration agreements with Eni SpA (ENI), Royal Dutch Shell Plc […]

Culture Lifestyle

Algeria: Spanish cinema takes centre stage

Algiers is playing host to the projection of Spanish films. The first movie entitled “In his own eyes” directed by Liliana Beatrice Paolinelli was projected at the Cinematheque of Algiers to mark the beginning of the event. The project is part of Spain’s cinema program under the name “Ciné en construction.” The event started on […]

Business Energy

Trans-Saharan gas pipeline operational by 2015 if obstacles overcome

A trans-Saharan pipeline that will convey gas from oil fields in Nigeria to Spain on the Mediterranean coast through Niger and Algeria is scheduled to be operational by 2015 if the project succeeds to overcome all the obstacles on its long way. According to estimates, the 4128 km long pipeline is to convey to the […]

Algeria Headlines

Algeria: Gap Widening between Regime Favourites and Majority of Population

The gap between the Algerian regime favourites and the majority of the population, which is living in rather difficult conditions, is increasingly widening although the country’s oil resources generate huge resources. While the Arab Spring wave swept over many neighboring countries in the region, Algeria has largely been spared large-scale unrest. Nonetheless, the government has […]

Headlines Mauritania

Mauritanian President Denies any Foreign Involvement in his shooting

Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz who was wounded on October 13 in a shooting that was officially reported as “accidental” has confirmed earlier this week this initial version of the incident and flatly denied any foreign involvement in the shooting. The Mauritanian strongman, who had been hospitalized in Paris after the gunshot wound he sustained, […]

Culture Lifestyle

Algeria: ‘Sbiba’ festival

The annual cultural festival of “Sbiba” which is hosted in Djanet is fast approaching its 4th edition and preparations are well in place as it is also preceded by the 4th edition of the National Festival of Music and Song Targuies which kicked-off on Sunday with most of the artistes coming from the southern region […]

Features Letters to the Editor Opinions

The Grey-Force: Militant Salafism and Changing Security in North Africa

It is common today to associate Salafism with radicalism, nihilist violence and failed states. In fact, Salafism is a heterogeneous religious and political tendency. Salafis agree on the glorification of the early Muslim community, its religious texts, its supposed unity, its energy and moral conduct. However, they differ considerably on the way to revive this […]

Business Energy

Algeria’s gas shipment arrives in Egypt

Reports from Algeria claim that Egypt has received in the last few days a 53,000 tons shipment of gas from Algeria in a move to ease its energy demands. The shipment is part of a negotiated deal brokered between the Egyptian government and the Algerian petroleum company SONATRACH for the increment of butane gas imports […]